The bigger the opportunity, the easier it is to take it on and being able to represent your country and go overseas is no opportunity to hesitate over.

“Any time you get selected to represent a country, I think, no matter the sport, it’s a pretty big honour, no matter the level of competition either.”

“Representing a country you’re proud of is something you don’t take lightly and knowing how competitive hockey is on our level, the U Sports level, it was a big honour. When I got asked, I love travelling, I had no hesitation in saying yes. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

“It’s a tough scenario coming into it because it’s 22 guys who’ve for the most part, never played together, never met,” Hanlon said.

“We get there three days before our first game, in a foreign city, 12 hours ahead, a lot of obstacles in the way. We came together a few days before and rolled into the first game,” Hanlon said.

Team Canada had no issues getting through as they went 4-1 in the preliminary round.

“It was an experience that you become somebody bigger than your own sport, you become one for Canada.”

Their only loss, which just so happened to cost them a chance to go further, was against Kazakhstan who they eventually went on to beat 3-0 for the bronze medal.

“We met a tough Kazakhstan group that has played together for a while. We felt we put together a pretty good game,” Hanlon stated.

As for himself, the Waterloo native finished the tournament with six points in seven games off the strength of four goals and two assists.

“Personally, I thought I did pretty well considering playing with other elite players,” Hanlon said.

“I can say more about how the team played and I’m just happy I got to be a part of it,” Hanlon said.

The bigger picture for Hanlon, however, did not have to do with that.

The experience as a whole was far bigger than just himself.

“The biggest thing I could take away, just wearing the Team Canada jersey, it becomes so much bigger than hockey and especially with this event, it wasn’t just a hockey tournament, it was university students from all around the world competing at their own event,” Hanlon said.

“It was an experience that you become somebody bigger than your own sport, you become one for Canada.”

“It was just a really cool feeling and something I won’t forget.”

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Author: Abdulhamid IbrahimNow a fourth year student at Laurier as a double major Communication Studies and Cultural Studies student, as well as the Sports Manager of Radio Laurier, Abdulhamid will look to play a key role once again in the sports section returning as the Lead Sports Reporter for The Cord.